BENIN CITY, NIGERIA. May 4, 2020…. The Africa Network for Environment
and Economic Justice, ANEEJ and all its partners on the Monitoring Transparency
and Accountability in the Management of Returned Assets (MANTRA) project being
supported by DFID Nigeria under its Anti-Corruption in Nigeria (ACORN) programme
have welcomed the successful repatriation of $311,797,866 of the Abacha III
Loot to Nigeria.

Executive Director of ANEEJ, the Rev David
Ugolor in a swift reaction to the return of the Abacha III Loot from the US as
announced today by the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar
Malami, SAN, said Civil Society Organisations
working under the aegis of MANTRA
will carry out an end- to -end
independent monitoring of the use of the returned loot earmarked for infrastructural project as agreed by the UK, US, Island of Jersey and the Nigerian
governments during the negotiation
processes.

“The MANTRA project has gained global
recognition through its successful monitoring of $322.5 Abacha 2 loot returned
from Switzerland. Key to its success has been collaborative working with
government stakeholders to support the needs of the Nigerian people,” Ugolor
said.

The Executive Director, FAHIMTA Women and Youth Development Initiative (FAWOYDI),
Bauchi and North East Coordinator of MANTRA, Hajia Maryam Garba, adds that “Protecting
money repatriated to Nigeria is an ongoing challenge. It is also critical to
Nigeria’s development. Many lessons have been learnt during the process of
monitoring the Abacha 2 loot, recently shared with the public in the one- year
report issued to the public.”

On his part, the Executive Director of CIRRDOG
Enugu, Engr. Raph Ndigwe said “the
MANTRA project intends to extend its coverage to the Abacha III loot to ensure
the same level of transparency and accountability. The legal fireworks for the recovery of the
assets started since 2014, but discussions with the repatriating governments of
UK, US and Jersey commenced since 2019.
The MANTRA project intends to play an active role in the monitoring of
Abacha III Loot, destined for some key infrastructural projects—Lagos-Ibadan
Expressway, Abuja-Kano Road and the Second Niger Bridge amongst others.”

ANEEJ helmsman, David Ugolor assured that “the MANTRA project will seek to collaborate with the ministry of justice, complementing other monitoring arrangements, promoting a national effort. The MANTRA project has already carried out existing working collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Justice and other key government agencies demonstrating the success of state/non-state working together in the spirit of Open Government Partnership. It is our expectation that this good working in the interest of the Nigerian people will continue.”